Brain Cancer Recovery

A brain tumor is a type of tumor that grows in or near the brain. These tumors can be either malignant (cancerous) or benign (non-cancerous). Having a brain tumor removed results in the patient needing to undergo brain tumor recovery. Depending on the patient, the size of the tumor, the location of the tumor and the amount of damage caused by the tumor will determine how long and how intense the recovery process is.

Cognitive Retraining

• Cognitive refers to reasoning, thinking and perceptual abilities. According to the American Brain Tumor Association, cognitive retraining occurs in two phases: learning strategies to compensate for impairments and restoring the patient's cognitive skill. Rebuilding cognitive skills consists of improving and learning strategies to better the patient's attention, problem solving skills, concentration, judgment, memory, perception and organization. Patients will also learn to utilize their cognitive strengths in order to compensate for their cognitive weaknesses.

Managing Fatigue

• According to the American Brain Tumor Association, fatigue can get so severe that it interferes with the patient's ability to complete daily activities. Most patients experience intense fatigue when then are going through treatment for their brain tumor such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or biologic therapy. However, this fatigue may follow them into the brain tumor recovery process. Patients who experience fatigue are encouraged to not overdo anything and ask for help when they need it. Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet and exercising regularly can help them combat their fatigue. Patients should also follow a sleeping schedule where they go to sleep and wake up at the same time everyday.

Rehabilitative Medicine

• According to the American Brain Tumor Association, rehabilitative medicine involves restoring a patient's vocational, physical and psychological functions. If function is not able to be fully restored, this form of brain tumor recovery aims to improve these functions as much as possible. This form of recovery often involves physical therapy to help patient's regain strength and balance, psychological therapy to help them manage depression and emotional stress and occupational therapy to help them learn how to complete everyday tasks.

Speech Pathology Services

• According to the American Brain Tumor Association, speech pathology services can help patients who have developed brain tumor-related speech, eating, drinking and swallowing problems improve these abilities. The recovery plan will ultimately depend on the patient, which of these functions are impaired and the degree of their impairments.

Caregiver Stress Management

• Those caring for a brain tumor recovery patient are often under a lot of stress and they often attempt to care for their loved one without any help. This ultimately leads to stress and sometimes burnout. According to the American Brain Tumor Association, caregivers should seek outside assistance from other family members so that they do not become too stressed out over caring for their loved one. If a caregiver has little or no family they can seek help from neighbors and community groups.